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Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49
Episode 11

by Nick Creamer,

This week's episode starts with a perfect Shōnen Hollywood moment - a random conversation about hangnails between Makki and Kakeru that's prompted by nothing and goes nowhere. Many people talk about their love for slice of life shows, but the shows they're referring to don't really feel like slices of actual life to me. This is “slice of life” - what could be more meaningless and relatable than a conversation you use just to fill space when you're waiting for something to happen?

I wonder why more people aren't watching this show.

Anyway. In truth, that conversation does lead to something - it ultimately results in Kakeru learning that much of the “fan mail” they've been receiving so far is actually hate mail, letters from fans angry at the new idols for even thinking to use the same name as the original, beloved Shōnen Hollywood. And that sparks off the conflicts of this week's episode, as the various members of Shōnen Hollywood struggle with their own fears in the lead-up to their first concert.

This is a sad and anxiety-ridden episode. Questions of purpose and motivation fall hardest on Kakeru, who's always been the most doubtful and least motivated member of the group. Learning their group might not even be desired kills what little motivation he has - he's always questioned if he's on the right path, and seeing clear indications that he's not, along with witnessing the general tension in the group, causes his commitment to falter. But the others aren't exempt from this anxiety, either. Shun hears about their group's troubles in his own way, as he stays late for practice and ends up overhearing their managers discussing the significant hate mail they've been receiving. “Fans” will always deride you, always want the old thing or a different thing or a better thing, but to these boys who haven't even gotten to perform yet, the double-edged nature of fame is a difficult thing to accept.

Makki also ends up suffering under the anxieties emerging here, though the nature of his issues are smartly reflective of his specific character. Unlike most the others, Makki isn't really motivated by either a love of idols or a desire for success - he simply wants a home that accepts him. And when his home seems fractured by tensions unrelated to their common bonds, his usual positivity is strained to the breaking point. I particularly liked how he first expresses his refusal to accept the tension in the group by actually spending the night sleeping on the stage - Makki's a very straightforward guy, so it's not surprising he'd counter Kakeru's claim that Shōnen Hollywood isn't his home in the most literal way possible.

Shōnen Hollywood has always been smarter about addressing what effort, art, and celebrity are really like than most shows, but I felt like this episode hit particularly close to home. The inescapable presence of criticism, the anxiety of knowing your efforts can't directly lead to greater success (Shun's “it's not like more rehearsals will boost poor ticket sales” was a particularly biting line), even the shame of feeling your family's support when you consider yourself a failure - pretty much every bitter edge of the performer's life was present and accounted for. And after all those hard truths, it was almost a mercy that this episode ended not in sadness, but mere ambiguity. Kakeru has the least presence of any of these characters, but he was the correct choice for the lead - the uncertainty he feels towards his own life is a fine reflection of the uncertainty this whole show feels towards media, fame, and stability altogether.

Rating: A-

Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49 is currently streaming on Funimation.

Nick writes about anime, storytelling, and the meaning of life at Wrong Every Time.



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